Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



No. 782,818. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905 N. M. BENSON.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLIUATIOR FILED APR. 11, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented. February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,818, dated February21, 1905.

Application filed April 11, 1904. Serial No. 202,622.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NILs M. BENSON, a citizen of the United States,residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovementsinSteeringMechanismforAutomobiles, of which the following isa specification.

This invention refers to improvements in steering mechanism forautomobiles, and has for its object the production of such a steeringmechanism in which simplicity and strength are combined with ease andcertainty of movement.

A further object of the invention is the production of a steeringmechanism embodying the improvements hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an under side view of anautomobile-frame fitted with my improved steering mechanism. Fig. 2 is avertical central section through a portion of such steering mechanism,taken on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on broken dottedline 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing also the connection between theconnecting-rod and the crank-arm of the steeringhead. Fig. 4 is a detailview showing the connection between the forward end of theconnecting-rod and the steering-axle.

In the embodiment of this invention I provide a main frame A, comprisingside bars A. transverse bars A and bars A for supporting the casing forthe steering mechanism. Springs B of common construction are securedbeneath the frame in the usual manner and carry upon their lower sidethe axle B. At its ends the axle B is bifurcated, forming the yokes Bwithin which yokes are pivotally supported the bell cranksteeringknuckles B having the integral inwardly-extending crank-arms Bpivotally connected by means of the pivoted link B One of thesteering-knuckles B is provided with an arm B fixed with relation tosaid knuckle and providing a means for attaching thereto theconnecting-rod to be hereinafter mentioned.

The steering mechanism proper is supported within a casing C, comprisingan upper portion O and a lower portion C the former having integral sideflanges O adapted to rest upon and be secured to the supporting-bars AThe upper portion O of the casing O comprises an integral sleeve (3* forthe steering-rod and a pocket O for receiving the upper end of the shaftof the steering-gear, both to be hereinafter described. The lowerportion C of the casing is also provided with an integral sleeve O forthe steering-head and with an integral abutment-stud O for the end ofthe steering-rod. The two parts of the casing are secured together bymeans of coinciding ears C the lower ear of each pair beingscrew-threaded to receive the screws O.

A steering-gear D is located within the easing C, said gear beingslightly beveled and having teeth D upon only a portion of itsperiphery. A stem D formed integral with said gear, lies within thebearing-sleeve O of the lower portion of the casing O, a washer D beingplaced upon said stem between the inner end of said sleeve and saidgear.

A shaft E lies within the hollow stem D of the bevel steering-gear D,the upper end of said shaft entering the bearing-pocket O, formed in theupper portion of the casing O. The shaft E is secured to the stem D bymeans of the pin E. and the lower end of said shaft is turned at a rightangle to form the crank E At its outer end the crank E is turneddownwardly and provided at its end with an integral ball E for forming aballand-socket joint with the connecting-rod E, which joins said crankwith the arm B" of the bell-crank steering-knuckles.

A steering-rod F lies within and extends upwardly from thebearing-sleeve O. Atits upper end this steering-rod is provided with theusual steering-wheel F and at its lower end with the bevel-pinion Fmeshing with the steering-gear D. The pinion F is provided with a hub Fand by means of a pin F is secured to the steering-rod F. A tubularcasing F surrounds the steering-rod.

By the arrangement shown the steeringgear D is provided with a longbearing within its bearing-sleeve O, and a strong and positive steeringconnection between the steeringwheel F and the front wheels is provided.The means of attachment of the casing O to the supporting-bars A of themain frame makes the entire steering-gear readily removable, while theseparable casing makes the parts of the mechanism easily accessible forcleaning or repair. The washer l) is provided between the upper end ofthe bearingsleeve U and the steering-gear D, so that when the teeth ofsaid gear and of the pinion F become worn the washer may be placed abovethe steering-gear in order to move said gear downwardly, thus bringingthe rotative centers of said gear and pinion nearer together and takingup wear between them.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction andarrangement of parts shown and described herein, as such constructionand arrangement may be modified or varied by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In asteeringmechanism for automobiles, incombination, a two-part separable casing, each part comprisingabearing-sleeve; asteering-gear having a stem adapted to lie within oneof said sleeves; an abutment formed in one of said casing portions andalined with the other of said sleeves; a steering-rod lying within saidlast-mentioned sleeve and abutting against said abutment; a pinion onsaid steering-rod adapted to mesh with said steeringgear; and anoperative connection between the steering-gear and the steering-axle.

2. In a steering mechanism for automobiles, in combination, a two-partseparable casing, one of the parts of said casing comprising abearing-sleeve; a steering-gear having a tubular stem rotatably mountedin said sleeve; a steering-shaft lying within and fixed to said tubularstem, said shaft being provided with a crank-arm having aball-and-soeket connection with a connecting-rod, which connectingrod ispivotally connected with the steeringaxle; and a steering-rod having apinion fixed thereto adapted to mesh with said steeringgear.

3. In asteering mechanism for automobiles, in combination, a two-partseparable casing, each part having a bearing-sleeve; a bearingpocket insaid casing coinciding with one of said bearing-sleeves; abearing-abutment in.

said casing coinciding with the other bearingsleeve; a steering-gearhaving a tubular stem adapted to lie within one of said bearingsleeves;a steering-shaft within said tubular stem, the end of which shaft isadapted to enter said bearing-pocket; a steering-rod having a pinionlixed thereto adapted to mesh with said steering-gear, the end of thesteering-rod lying in contact with said abutment; a crankarm for thesteering-shaft; and a connectingrod connection between said crank-armand the steering-axle.

*L. In a steering mechanism for automobiles, in combination, a two-partseparable casing, each part having a bearing-sleeve formed integraltherewith; a steering-gear having a tubular stem adapted to lie withinone of said sleeves; an abutment formed in one of said casing portionsand alined with the other of said sleeves; a steering-rod lying withinsaid last-mentioned sleeve and abutting against said abutment; a pinionon said steering-rod adapted to mesh with said steering-gear; asteering-shaft lying within and fixed to the tubular stem of saidsteering-gear,said shaft being provided with a crank-arm; abearingpocket formed in one of the casing portions adapted to receiveone end of said steeringshaft; and a connecting-rod pivotally connectedat one end With the steering-axle and at its other having aball-and-socket connection with said crank-arm.

5. In a steering mechanism for automobiles, in combination, a casingadapted to be secured to the automobile, said casing comprising anupwardly extending inclined bearing sleeve and a downwardly-extendingvertical bearingsleeve; a steering-rod lying within the inclinedbearing-sleeve and carrying a pinion fixed thereon; a steering-gear insaid casing; a shaft extending through said vertical bearing-sleeve andhaving fixed thereon a steering-gear adapted to mesh with said pinion;and an operative connection between the steering-axle and said shaft.

6. In asteering mechanism for automobiles, in combination, a separablecasing comprising an upper part adapted to be secured to the automobile,said upper part having an inclined bearing-sleeve and a bearing-pocket,said casing also comprising a lower part adapted to be secured to saidupper part, said lower part being provided with a verticalbearing-sleeve and an abutment; a steering-rod lying within thebearing-sleex e of the upper part and abutting against said abutment; asteering-gear having a stem adapted to lie within the bearing-sleeve ofthe lower part; a pinion on said steering-rod adapted to mesh with saidsteering-gear; a vertical shaft fixed with relation to the stem of saidsteering-gear, the upper end of said shaft lying within thebearingpocket of the upper casing portion; a crankarm on said shaft; andan operative connection between the steering-axle and said crankarm.

NILS M. BENSON. Witnesses:

L. L. MILLER, GEORGE L. CHINDAI'IL.

